Top Gun is flying high once again

Top Gun was the biggest movie of 1986, and it’s had an amazing the second life since then.

Before the passing of director Tony Scott, there was even plans for a sequel. A lot of pop culture from the 80’s is very painfully dated today, so again, it’s a trip to see a movie that’s 27 years old still having any interest today.

Now The Wrap tells us that Top Gun has had a successful run in IMAX 3D, taking in $1.9 million in 300 IMAX dates, which equals about $6,600 per screen. Paramount set up the IMAX release as a precursor to Top Gun’s 3D Blu-ray release on February 19.

Tony Scott, the brother of Ridley, supervised the 3D remaster before he passed, with the transfer set in motion from high-resolution scans from the original negative.

As we've discussed previously on TG Daily, IMAX has become the hot new thing for epic event movies in Hollywood, to the point where Star Trek Into Darkness will make its debut two days early in IMAX before it’s in regular theaters everywhere. Clearly, Top Gun is a perfect candidate for the Imax 3D format, and it’s a nice tribute to Scott’s filmmaking legacy.

As Garret J. Smith, the digital mastering expert who handled the transfer, told FxGuide, "The film had been properly handled over the years and because it was handled in Super 35 (millimeter), there was less wear and tear on the negative than others from that era."

For the Huffington Post, Mike Ryan raved that "There is no better movie scene made for a large screen and very loud speakers than the one right when the Top Gun Anthem morphs into Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone as the fighter jet takes off."

He also wrote, "One of my fears about Top Gun in 3D did not come true: the 3D is barely noticeable, not intrusive. It adds some depth, but nothing leaps off the screen."

As for the 3D not being intrusive, as one crew member working on the conversion noted: "We want to avoid creating a situation where 3D becomes the story. In fact, the audience should be able to lose themselves in the film, forgetting they are watching a 3D movie. However, we do want to use conversion to immerse the audience and enhance their emotional and visceral reaction to the storyline."

Judging by the box office and fan reactions, sounds like mission accomplished.